Speech #870161733

Mr. President. we are all aware that our immigration policy is a most important question which has vast implications in the field of foreign policy in addition to directly affecting the lives of many of our citizens and those who seek an opportunity to become citizens. I have always maintained that immigration legislation should not be a partisan matter. In this connection. I was very much impressed by a most stimulating speech recently given by the Honorable John W. Hanes. Jr.. before the Allegheny County Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. in Pittsburgh. Mr. Hanes was the Director of the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs in the previous administratiorL He brings to the subject of immigration a great deal of practical experience. Since leaving offce. Mr. Hanes has spent considerable time with questions involving immigration. Mr. Hanes opened his talk with some profound observations: The subject of immigration is both unpopular and uninteresting to the average American even though it affects him deeply. Immigration has made us as a people what we are. Future immigrationor the lack of itwill influence importantly the pace and the kind of change which our society will have. Immigration policy is certainly important to the success or failure of our foreign policy. because it is the face which we turn toward the world. It is very often the "deeds" by which our wordsand the true nature of our kind of Governmentare judged by foreign peoples. Those of us here tonight. by virtue of our special interest In immigration. are looked to by our fellow citizens for guidance in this Immensely complex and confusing area. We bear. therefore. a very special responsibility to understand clearly what we are talking about. Despite this fact. it is among those who should be best informed that often we find the readiest acceptance of common catchword assumptions whose validity they have never tested for themselves. Have we really thought through the basic problems? Why do we want any immigration into this country? What kind? How should it be controlled. and for what purpose?